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Page Created and Maintained by:
Austin

Page First Published on:
June 10, 1997

Page Last Edited on:
January 7, 2000

Page Hosting is provided by:
Al Waller, K3TKJ
 
The K9GEM Rover Station Specifications
Still don't think that I am a geek? Ha!  Imagine spending five whole weekends each year driving over a 1,000 miles with one of these on top of your vehicle?  Not to mention the inside full of radios blaring and wires running every where!  I didn't think so!


The K9GEM Rover Mount

Here are pics of our PVC Mounting that I designed for rovering. Special thanks to KS9WI
for his leadership and assistance during the construction phases of the first two versions.
All three versions cost less than $10 to make (not counting PVC Cement). All three
versions were constructed using Schedule 40 PVC. All three versions mounted directly
onto the Luggage Racks of our vehicles, and withstood speeds in excess of 70mph.

Here is Beta #1 to our mount. It stood roughly 3 1/2 feet tall. We used this one during our January Sweepstakes Rove.

Here is a close up of how the 6m Par Omni Antenna mounted to the PVC Mount.

We needed more room for the 2m beam, so here is Beta #2. This one stands just over 5ft tall. We used this one during our June QSO Party Rove.

Beta #3, for the September Contest, stood just over 6ft tall. Schedule 40 PVC was again used. For added support, wooden dowels were placed inside the piping and guying was used to insure that the mount stayed intact under the heavier wind load conditions.

The K9GEM Station

The K9GEM station is designed around a multi-op configuration. The K9GEM station is designed for two operators and a driver. Per the ARRL rules, a third person is allowed as part of a rover team as long as he/she does not operate at any point in the contest. I like to invite a non-ham, or even a newly licensed ham, to be the driver as a chance to introduce them to the excitement of Ham Radio and VHF/UHF Rover Contesting.

For antennas...

KB6KQ Loops are used for 6m, 2m, and 70cm. The Loops for 2m and 70cm are stacked using the 48" and 17" spacing recommended by the manufacturer. For those difficult contacts, a M2 2m 4-element beam is used. Plans are currently being developed to add an 11-element beam for 70cm. MFJ Coax Switches allow for the choosing between Loops and Beams on the fly. 

The K9GEM/R station uses Cable X-Perts 9913F Cabling exclusively. KB6KQ Loops are of very impressive construction quality and work very well.

In the front seat, an Alinco DX-70TH and a Yaesu FT-8500 is used for 6m SSB and 2m/440 FM contacts. In the back seat, an FT-847 rig is implemented for 2m and 70cm SSB contacts. All rigs are currently run barefoot.